Molding apparatus



Aug- 9, 1932- J. A. DE TURK ET AL I 21,871,406

MOLDING APPARATUS f Filed Dec. 1o. 192e 4.2 sheets-sheet 1 Aug 9, 1932,. J. A. DE TURK ET Al., $371306 MOLDING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 1o 1928 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented Aug. 9, 1932 UNITED STATES 'PATENT ori-Tief; f i

IEREMLAH Amos DE TURK, OF LA GRANGE, AND RsTYLE nRucY HANsoN, or WEST- MONT, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORS To WESTERN :ELECTRIC COMPANY, INCORPORATED, or NRW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION oF NRW YORK y Y MoLnING AreeRnTUs Application mea December 10,' 192s. serial No. 324,863. I,

lThis invention relates to molding apparatus and more particularly to a hydrauof mechanism for simplifying and expediting the'separation of the mold `sections and the ejection of the molded articles.V Y

In accordance with one embodiment of the f' invention a molding press such as that shown in copending application Serial No. 324,812, iiled December 10, 1928, is Vprovided with latches mounted on the tiltable headby means of which the upper mold section may be lsecured to the tiltable head and anejector plate for simultaneously ejecting the molded articles from the mold cavities for engagement by the latches. Y

A. manually controlled releasing leveris provided for actuating the -latches which automatically'grasp the upper half of the mold and may beV operated only when the tiltable head is in parallelismwith the vertically movable head at the sub-pressing station.

' Other object sand advantages Of-thisinvention will become apparent .from the following detailed description, reference being had to the accompanying'drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a fragmentary: front elevational view of atwo-station hydraulically operated molding press embodying the features of the invention; j f

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the vline v2j.-2 of Fig. 1, in the direction indicated bythe arrows;v

Fig. .3 is a fragmentary sectional view o' the tilting head taken on the line 3-3 of 1, in the direction indicated bylthe arrows; Y Fig. 4 Vis, a fragmentary sectional view taken lon the line 4-4 of Fig. 3, inthe direction indicated,` by the arrows; l

Fig. 5 is Aafra-gmentary sectional view tion indicated bythe arrowzs, and Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fio'. 2, in thepdirec-` taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2, Vinthe direction indicated by the arrows, showing the mold sections on the table. I

i Referring now'to the drawings wherein like Vvreference characters designate the same parts throughout the'various views, the numeral 10 designates generally a two station hydraulic molding press which includes a base llffwhich houses the main press Operating mechanism and the sub-press operating mechanism designated generally by thehumerals 13 and 14,respectively. l The main hydraulic cylinder issuspended from a supporting `plate 15 whichis cast in one piece of Variousthicfknesses, being thickest adjacent the main pressloperating mechanism where it will be subjected to the greatest strain. The supporting plate is mounted on the base l1 and the main press operating mechanism supportedjthereby actuates 'a head 17 on which are mounted an Vintermediate plate 18",

a heat insulating pad19 and" a steamh'eated platen 21 to Awhichfsteam is supplied by a vlieXibl'ehose 22 connected to a source of supply. not shown. A

.Vertical movement of the head 17 is controlled by two Oppositelyfdisposedpistons 23 and '25, the piston 23 moves'the head 17 and the'parts supported thereby upwardly upon the admission of water to a cylinder 26 with which the piston`23 cooperates. The water is admitted to the cylinder 26 through :an inletV and Outlet pipe 27 connected underV pressure-to a source ofV supply not shown. The piston whichis connectedto the head.l

17 by an equalizing cross member 29 having guide posts` 30 and -31 attached to eitherend thereofand to the lhead 17, causes the move-V` ment of the head downwardly upon the-admission of water or other Huid under 'pressure to acylinder 33r with which the piston 25 cooperates. 'The waterV is admitted to the l' cylinder through an inlet and outlet pipe 34' connected to a source ofsupply undera pressure substantially less than that of the supply which is admittedto the cylinder 2,6 and 'will moveV the piston. 25 downwardly only Vafter the water' in the' cylinder 26 has been permitted to andoutlet pipe 27. v

escape through the inlet Y The sub-press operating mechanism 14,f i

whichis Of'avconstruction somewhat similar Vtothat of the "main press .operating mechanism 13, is also supported by the supporting platel, and actuates ahead 85 upon which are mounted a heat insulating pad 37' and a cooling lplaten 38 towhich water or other Y ,Huid cooling medium is .admitted througha flexible diese connection. Up-

ward movement of the head is caused vby apiston 4l on which the head is' mounted, cooperatingwdth iaicylinder 4211pon' the.ad.;

:mission :of `vater under Azpmessure thereto through an inlet and outlet pipe 48. ''llhe downward movement of the head'imay be caused by the admission of water-underpressure to cylinders Ait-i5 through ypipes t6-46' which will drive a pair oT pistons Ll?? a7,ycooperati-ng `with thecylinders l5-+45 downwardly, provided `.the .water in the ,cylinder l2 .is exhausted theretrom through.the Vinlet and outlet pipe 43, the Aends of Ythe Apistons l45h-47' being fixed '5to '1an egualzing plate A9 which .is secured :to the lhead/3 5 ,by

.Three upright members .51, .53 laud r,5d-flare `-secured'fto the Aeugppontving `plate ,-15 .by means of nuts `%55 .and l support la yhead .57to `which-they are :alsosseoured by means `,of nuts .55.5'5. Fixed sto the vlower sur-face of ,the head-5T is afstationarygpress:headS-on which aresmounted :a heat insulatingpad 59 A.and

" laissteamfheated platen -61 Lto .which .steam'is admitted through ,-a ,pipe ,62 and zwhich; is I-. v.ertieal alignment with Athe :steam heated platen 2l mounted on the yenticallymov- -able'pness head 1T.' e es 'A tilta-ble -head'f jpivoted -to the head 5f( `:at 165fa=nd has secured -on its 1imdersurlface a heat insulating pad 66 'and -afcooling platen -67 jto which .a cooling ,uid :is :admitted )by pipes .694-69fand maybe `itilted about :the pivot poi-nt 6 5 1byuneans :of :a "toggle (connection designated generally the numeral 79. vilhe toggle-connection -is :composed Iof an :upper toggle ,lever 7.1'whieh -is gpi-voted aboutea `pin {securedfto the heard.

:63, and :a :lower Ftogg-le 'lever ".74 Vwhich is pinoted-,abouta pin 7.5 .mounted vinsupport V*ing members T.7-.-T7 useiouredrtp,the upper fsuritaee :ofthefhead-5-7. The lower toggle =le jverhasa segmental gearf tormedintegral withxthe lower@endtheredhthexteethrf which mesh'with :a rejciproeable ,rack 7 9 which :may

'.beginoved to the .night or the :lefty (Fig. 2,) by vmean-s of a piston :81 cooperating .with :a -Lcylinder ,182 ,to which fllii'd under ,pressure exray .be-admittedto. :and exhausted from fthroughfalpipe 83. Y v

1 ,"IlherrackfZQ bassa cylindrical-chamber 85 termed therei-navith which a piston 861km- --ing :a chamber 87 .therethroughgcoogoerates.

" Y'lll'ie cylinder f82-icontrolsthe movement @of v@the rack to the lett `whereas ithepiston ..86

cooperating with the chamber d'controls .the movement" ofthe iraek to the nrightmlpon ithe gescape of the (lui'd f from the `:eyliinder f 82 .through pipe SSVthe-chambenf bemg-connected through a pipe 89 to a source of fluid under a pressure less than that furnished to the pipe 83.

A table 90 having apertures 91 and 93 formed therein ,is rotatable about the upright member 51 and may carry upper and lower molding members 94 and 95 positioned thereon by pins 97-97 which project from ytheinpzperrsurtace -ioitlthe .table .90 .and engage :ingmenriher. 'hemolding members, which in lthis specific example are designed for forming telephone mouthpieces, have cooperating parts between which the mouthpiecesmaylbe'tormed. The lower mold- ,ing Lmember has v.a plurality of irregular the-tiltahlezhead.. The;laftches'are normally :urged inwardly toward :the-center of theeool-Y ing platenby' compressionsprings 11G-#11D whic'hare seated between shoulders lll-11.1 tormed in aperturesV 113-113 in Vthe tiltable ",heaid and-shoulders 11d- 114 'on longitudinallyreciprocable levers 1.15--115 pivoted to cthe upperend ofc-levers 117-117 `secured Ito the shafts 106.-196. The movement of #the latches toward the center of the, platen be-- yond a predetermined position is prevented by thefengagementfof the platen fby project- .ing portions 11S- ,118 formed on thelatches.

. Ihe 'longitudinally reciprocable levers .11151- ha-ve cam rollers -119-119 mounted ontheend thereof I'opposite Atheend ate-which ithe latches are pivote@ which ica-m rollers t.eo.opera-te-with cams 121%121 fixedby pins 122-122 to a shaft 123 journalled -in ,the

`tiltable head -at 125-andlf.Y Thus the ro- .tation-sof theshatt 12.3 .by fmov'ing a. .fmanual- ""i ly controlled le-ver 127 to the left 1), 4which-isfired-.to the sha-tt 11235 will .cause fthe levers V*115,--1-15 yto 'be :drawn inwardly .against the faction of 'the springs and will re.-

lease the latches 1135-105. The accidental if release-ofthe latches independent .of the man- `ual lever, at all times .except `when the cams are operatively .engagingfthe cam rollers7 is prevented b ykmetal disks V129-129 mounted on therearo the-cams vand tting intoslots 13G-:130 Oil-tn 'the levers 1155+115,

. The-release of the latches,V when ,the head v63 is tilted,l i-slpreviented by a bushing' y13-1 Imounted .onand sldable longitudinally of Y theshaft 123. This bushing has a. :key-3133 Iformed thereon which slides in a `key way 138 attached to the stationary head 57. A V- Vshaped slot 139 is cut in the slidable bushing in which a pin 141 fixed to` the shaft 123 rides. Y

When the tiltable head is in the position shown in Fig. 3, the shaft 123 is free to rotate through approximately 90, but when the head is tilted out of parallelism with the head 35 the base of the lower right hand edge of the head 63 (Fig. 3) will be moved away from the head 35 and the springwill be permitted to move the bushing to the right moving the apex of the V-shaped slot into engagement with the pin 141 and thereby preventing the rotation of the shaft 123. In order that the entire weight of the uppermolding member will not rest on the right hand (Fig. 3) latches when the tiltable head is tilted, and in order to accurately align the upper molding member with the lower molding member, guides 142-142 are fixedto the under surface of the head 63 and engage slots 143-143 cut in the upper molding member Vand support the .upper molding member on into and out of operative association with the lower molding member.

Then it is desired to utilize the ejector plate 150 for removing completed articles from the lower-molding member, the ejector plate may be slid to the right (Fig. 1) until it strikes the end of the framework 145, prorvided the sub-press head is in its lowest posi# tion. The ejector plate which also carries mold displacing pins 148-148 will then pass between the upper and lower surfaces of a plurality of retaining members 153-153 attached to the sub-press head and be raised by the operation of the sub-press head until the Vmold displacing pins 148-148 engage positioning members 152-152 which are secured to the upper molding member and engage apertures 156-156 in the lower molding member. Continued upward movement of the sub-press head will raise theupper Y molding membereout ofengagement withthe throughV apertures 154-154 in the lower molding member (see Fig. 5) `and engage the under' surface of' the Vforming members 101-101 to eject the molded articles'fromth'e recesses 99-99, thus simultaneously securing the upper molding member fordisplacement away from the lower molding member and ej ecting the molded articles. Y

Mechanism is provided for holding .the

lower molding` member down while the upper molding member is being moved upwardly by the mold displacing Vpins cooperating with the positioning members. The mechanism comprises a pair of stopping blocks 155-155 lmounted at each side of the tiltable head ,and

secured to shafts 1'57-157 rotatably jour,- nalled in bearings 158-158 which shafts have levers 159-159 attached thereto. The'stop.-

soY

ping blocks may be moved into association them'to the opposite ends of a letter-163l mounted on the shaft 123.

The lever 127 is normally retained in an upright position to hold the stopping blocks away from the platen and to hold the latches against lthe platen by a counterweight 165 mounted on the shaft 123 and a spring166 attached to a sleeve 167 mounted on'the shaft 123 and attachedto the top of the head 63;

.The operation of the main press cylinder,

l the sub-press cylinder, and the head tilting cylinder is controlled by anumber of man-V ually operable `valve controls mounted on a Valve block 17-0 which is supported to the main press head 57 by a framework 169 which Iextends out from the left side thereof (Fig. 1)

trol the sub-press, levers 174 and 175 control the-main press and levers 177 and 178 control the head tilting cylinder. y A

It is believed that a better understanding of this invention will be had by reference to the following description of the operation thereof. ln the description of thev operation it has been assumed that the table has positioned thereon in apertures 91! and 93, the kupper and lower molding members. The levers 171 and 173 may be operated to permit a flow of waterY through the pipe .43 tov the sub-press cylinder 42, .thus actuating the piston 41 upwardly and raising the molding members until the uppermol'ding member is clamped by the latches -105 against the platen 67. The levers may then be moved to stop the flow of water to the cylinder 42 and to permit the water in the cylinder 42 to escape and allow the pressure in the cylinders 45-45, which is constant, to force the pistons vdownwardly therewith. llhe head will .deposit the lower molding member on the table 47-47 downwardly and carry the head 35 .I

where its apertures may be filled wth aplastic composition in granulated form.

Inorder to facilitate the loading of th mold cavities formed by the recesses 95-95 and theforming members 101-101 inthe lower molding member, the head carrying thc-upper molding lmember may be tilted out of parallelism withthe lowerV molding mem- .ber in .the followingl manner: The levers 177 -17 8 may be moved to permit fluid under pressure toenter the cylinder 82 through the pipe 83. This will move the .piston 81 to the left (Fig. 2) carrying with it the rack 79 and causing the segmental gear associated'therewith to rotate in a clockwise direction. This will in turn cause the toggle connection to fold back upon itself and tilt the tiltable head about its pivot point.

After the recesses in the lower molding f" members have been filled with the plastic composition, the tilting head may be tilted back into-parallelism with the lower molding'member` byk manipulating the levers 177 and 178. This will permit the water in cyl- -i inder 82 to be forced out through the pipe 83 due to the constant pressure exerted in 'the chamber 85 formed inthe rack 79.

In order to position the upper and lower molding members with the plastic composition between them on the table, the lower Vmold member'may be raised by the head as described hereinbefore, until it comes into contact with the upper molding member,

whereupon the lever 127 may be moved toV the left and through the cams which it con-k trols and thelevers 115-115 which the cams f actuate, it will release the latches 105 and l is caused by admitting water tothe cylinder :26 through the pipe22V controlled bythe levers 177 and' 178. The operation as described inv connection with loading the mold which is now under pressure, may be repeated with a similar mold now at the sub-pressing station, while heat and pressure kare being applied to the molding members at the main pressing station to mold the article. Y

The molding members at the main pressing station having been under pressure for a predetermined'time and the molding members at l lthe sub-pressing station having been loaded,

molding members at the main pressing station may be lowered onto the table 90` by lowering the head 17. This is accomplished by manipulating the levers 177 and 178 to allow the water inthe cylinder 26 to be forced out through'the pipe 27 by the pressureconstantly exerted in the cylinder '33.5

l The table may now be rotated to bring the freshly'loaded nold intoY the main pressing station, andthe moldingv members containing the moldedarticles maybe .cooled while under pressure in the following manner at the subpressing, station. The head may bey elevated in the manner described hereinbefore untilthe molding members are compressed betweenthe cooling platens. After the articles have been cooled sufficiently the molding members may be again lowered to the table and theV head 35 may be lowered to its lowermost position, whereupon the ejector plate 150 may bev slid betweeny ythe upperand lower surfaces i ofthe :retaining vmembers' fixed `to the head 35.- moved to bring the stopping blocks 155 into a vertical-position,whereupon the head carrying the ejector plate may be raised until the pins151-151 enter theapertures 154 lin the. lowerv molding member and engage the forming memberlOl, forcing it up untilthe moldedarticles are forced out of recesses 99. The tiltableheadfmay then be tilted as described hereinbefore andwbile in that. position the molded artielesmay be removed from the lower molding member. After the molded articles have been removed:l from the mold the ejector plate may be returned to the left end ofthe guideway7 the molds refilled and the operation repeated. y

What: is claimed is:

1f. In a plastic molding press for two part molds,a tiltable head, spring actuated means for securing a mold part thereto, control means for releasing' the spring actuated Y means, and means for preventing the oper- The lever 127 may then be Y ation of the icontrolmeans unless the tiltable head/is inv a predetermined position.

.2. In a plastic-molding press fortwo part molds, a tiltable head, spring actuated means for securing a mold member thereto for angular displacement, manually operable means for releasing the spring actuated means, and meansffor preventing the operation of the manually controlled means unless the tiltable head is in a predetermined position.

3. In a plastic molding press, a -mold'including a plurality -of sections, a tiltable head, latches mounted thereon for securing Va mold lsection thereto, resilient means for urging the latches to grasp the mold section, means for releasing the latches comprising cam rollers Vsecured to the latches, cams associated with said cam rollers, and a manually rotatable shaft for actuating the cams.

4. In a plasticy molding press, aV mold Vincluding aplurality ofsections, a tilta-ble head, latches `mounted thereon for securing a mold section thereto, resilient means for urging the vlatches to grasp'the mold section, means for releasing the latches comprising cam :rollers secured Vto the latches, cams associated with saidl'cam rollers, a manually rotatable shaft for actuating the cams, anda disk mounted on the rear of the cams to prevent the release of the latches independent of the cams.

5. Ina plastic molding press for two part molds, a movable head, means for securing a mold part thereto, means for preventing the release of the mold securing means when the head is in a predetermined position comprising a slidable member associated with the mold securing means, resilient means operative upon the movement of the head in one direction for moving the slidable member securing means, and means responsive to the movementl of the head in the opposite direction for moving the slidable member against the action of the resilient means to permit the release of the mold securing means.

6. In a plastic molding press for two part molds, a movable head, latches mounted thereon for securing a mold part thereto, a manually rotatable shaft for releasing the latches, means for preventing the rotation of the shaft to release the latches when the head is in a predetermined position comprising a sleeve slidable longitudinally of the rotatable shaft and slidably keyed in the movable head. said sleeve having a triangular slot therein, a pin secured to the rotatable shaft and positioned in the triangular slot, and means responsive to movement of the movable head for moving the sleeve longitudinally of the shaft to determine the amount the shaft may be rotated.

7. In a plastic molding press for two-part molds, a tiltable head, means for securing a mold part thereto, control means for releasing the securing means, means for preventing the operation of the control means when the tiltable head is in a predetermined position, and guide means cooperating between the head and the mold part for preventing displacement of the part when the head is in the predetermined position.

8. In a plastic molding press for two-part molds, a tiltable head, means for securing a mold part thereto, control means for releasing the securing means, means for preventing the operation of the control means when the head is in a predetermined position, and guide means cooperating between the head and the mold part for preventing displacement between the mold part and the second mold part when the head is in the predetermined position.

9. In a plastic molding press for detachable two part molds, means for ej ecting molded articles from the molds means for simultaneously therewith securing the upper mold means for securing one section of the mold to the press for movement out of association with another section of the mold, and locking means including a slidable sleeve having a substantially triangular aperture cooperating with a pin for preventing the displacement of the first mentioned mold section when out of association with the second mentioned mold section. v

11. In a plastic molding press for detachable twov part molds, means for ejecting molded articles from the molds, means kfor simultaneously therewith securing the upper mold part to the press for subsequent movement out of association with the lower mold part, means comprising a rock shaft for disengaging the upper mold part from the press, and locking means associated with the shaft for preventing the displacement of the upper lmold part when out of association with the lower part.

In witness whereof we hereunto subscribe our names this 30th day of November, A.l D.

part to the press for subsequent movement ,I

out of association with the lower mold part,

and guide means integral with the press and distinct from the securing means for preventing the displacement of the upper mold part when out of association with the lower part.

10. In a plastic molding press, a detachable mold including a plurality of sections,

lea 

